THE BRITISH SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION
vessel the Discovery they coasted along
the ice-barrier one hundred and fifty
miles beyond the point where James
Clarke Ross stopped 60 years ago. This
ice-barrier extends from the land out
upon the water. From its front, which
Captain Scott believes floats on the
water, the great southern icebergs
break, towering sometimes to nearly
1,ooo feet, and compared to which the
icebergs of the North Atlantic are but
pigmies. After coasting for many days
along the ice-front to longitude 152° 30',
latitude 76°, they returned and put in
at a safe harbor-MacMurdo Bay. This
they made their base of action.
Here
they passed the winter in sight of Erebus,
the volcano which Ross had seen belch
ing forth fire and smoke in 1841. It is
quiet now. A sledging party ascended
a glacier to the height of 9,000 feet, and
found a level plain stretching to the
west as far as the eye could reach.
In latitude 820 they discovered an
extensive mountainous region, hitherto
absolutely unknown, extending to 83°
20' nearly due south. This discovery
seems to indicate that land stretches to
the Pole in a series of lofty mountains,
and is an important geographical result.
CAPTAIN SCOTT'S REPORT
The Morning, the auxiliary wooden
ship that left New Zealand December
6, 1902, to carry supplies to Captain
Scott, found the expedition at their
winter base on Victoria Land, left the
provisions, and then returned to New
Zealand. The following is Captain
Scott's report of his work until the ar
rival of the Morning :
The Discovery entered the ice-pack
on December 23, 1901, in latitude 670
south. Cape Adare was reached on Jan
uary 9, but from there a heavy gale and
ice delayed the expedition, which did
not reach Wood Bay till January 18.
A landing was effected on the 2oth in
an excellent harbor, situated in latitude
760 30' south. A record of the voyage
was deposited at Cape Crozier on the
22d. The Discovery then proceeded
along the barrier within a few cables'
length, examining the edge and making
repeated soundings. In longitude 165°
the barrier altered its character and
trended northwards.
Sounding here
showed that the Discovery was in shal
low water. From the edge of the bar
rier high snow slopes rose to an exten
sive, heavily glaciated land, with occa
sionally bare precipitous peaks. The
expedition followed the coast line as far
as latitude 76°, longitude 1520 30'.
The
heavy pack formation of the young ice
caused the expedition to seek winter
quarters in Victoria Land. On Feb
ruary 3 the Discovery entered an inlet
in the barrier in longitude 174°.
A bal
loon was sent up and a sledge party ex
amined the land as far as latitude 78°
50', near Mount Erebus and Terror.
At the southern extremity of an island
excellent winter quarters were found.
The expedition next observed the coast
of Victoria Land, extending as far as a
conspicuous cape, in latitude 780 50'.
It was found that mountains do not ex
ist here, and the statement that they
were to be found is clearly a matter for
explanation.
Huts for living and for
making magnetic observations were
erected, and the expedition prepared
for wintering. The weather was bois
terous, but a reconnaissance of sledge
parties was sent out, during which the
seaman Vince lost his life, the remainder
of the party narrowly escaping a similar
fate. The ship was frozen in March 24.
The expedition passed a comfortable
winter in well-sheltered quarters. The
lowest recorded temperature was 620
below zero. The sledging commenced
with the coming of spring, on Septem
ber 2, parties being sent out in all di
rections. Lieutenant Royds, Mr Skel
ton, and party successfully established
a record in an expedition to Mount
Terror, traveling over the barrier under
severe sledging conditions, with a tem
perature of 580 below zero. Com
mander Scott, Dr Wilson, assistant sur-
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